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Everton ready to make ‘big investments’

Everton chief executive Robert Elstone says the club will be making “big investments” in the summer.

Ronald Koeman has targeted a place in the Champions League over the next few years and this summer the club have stated that this summer will be “really important” for strengthening the squad.

In an interview with Radio City Talk, Elstone said: “It’s really important big summer for us and the club will continue to make big investments, the squad will continue to grow and improve and it will be a very busy and exciting summer for Everton fans.

“Looking back at the last summer transfer window, the transfer window changed enormously.

“Transfer fees went through the roof and wages went through the roof and I think more of the same will happen.

“What we’ve got to do is operate in that window as we always have done, looking out for best value and being as good as we can in terms of negotiating and getting the best bang for our buck in that sense.”

Everton are believed to be at the front of the queue to sign Burnley’s Michael Keane after holding talks over a £20million summer move.

And the arrival of majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri last year will help Koeman financially as he bids to find the best talent out there, but Elstone was quick to point out that Everton are way behind some of the Premier League’s big spenders.

“A lot of fans have been thinking there’s been a pivotal moment, Mr Moshiri joining the club was a special moment but that ambition has always been there ever since I’ve been at Everton,” added Elstone.

“Every single penny we’ve had has gone into creating and developing and putting the best 11 players on the pitch.

“What has happened across the whole of the Premier League is that we’ve got an amazing new TV deal which means that every single club is considerably better off and undoubtedly with Mr Moshiri standing behind us and providing funds is giving us that extra confidence.

“The strategy has always been there, the ambition has always been there, finally we’re getting the wherewithal to live up to that.

“The gap between Everton in seventh and some of the clubs above us who have been playing in the Champions League regularly is absolutely enormous.

“We’re £30-40million behind Tottenham in terms of wage bill, we’re about a third of what some of the other teams above us are behind and about a quarter of Manchester City and Chelsea.

“That gap is absolutely enormous but there’s a belief within the club that it’s not just about money.

“With a great manager with a great youth development system and great spirit, Leicester proved it – and we’ve definitely got better resources than Leicester – we believe we can kick on and take the club into the top four and take the club forward.”